Velocipede



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

STEPHEN H. KIMBALL, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,972, dated June 5, 1883,

Application filed August 25, ISS-2. (No model.)

To all whom. t 72u03/ concer/L:

Bc it known that l, STEPHEN H. KIMcxLL, of Everett, in the county of Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain 'Improvements in Velocipedes, of which'the following is a specification.. A

This invention relates to veloeipcdes having two rear wheels, to the axle of which is attached a seat-supporting frame, and a front wheel, journaled in a frame, is hinged to the seat-supporting frame.

The invention has for its object to provide certain improvements relating to the construetion of the seat-supportin g frame, whereby the same is made strong, light, and graceful, and to the means for securing the propellingcranks to the front wheel, whereby a strong and durable connection .is insured and the cranks are .securely held in their proper relative positions..

To these ends my invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed-to describe and claim.

Of t-he accompanying drawings,- forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of avelocipede embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the seat-supporting frame, the seat, andthe rear axle. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged top view of the hub of the drivingwheel, and Fig. 4 represents an enlarged seetion on line x af, Figs. 1 and 3.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the iigure's. v

In the drawings, A represents the scatframe; B, the seat, and C the frame in which the driving-wheel D is journaled. The frame C is composed, as usual, of two vertical standards, c c, connected aty their upper ends by a transverse bar, d, having handles at its ends. The frames A and C are hinged or pivoted together at H, as usual, so that the frame C, with the driving-wheel, can turn f'reely. VThe seatframe A is composed of two arched pieces, ay a, rigidly secured together at their forward ends and rigidly attached to the rear axle, E, at their rear ends, and straight braces a e', secured to the arched pieces e a-t points near the ends of the latter, so as to hold Jthe pieces ar in their arched form, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The seat B .rests upon the arched pieces a near their forward ends. It will be observed that each arched piece a. and its brace c constitute a truss capable of resisting a great dcl grec of vertical pressure. I amtherefore enabled to make the frame A of light and slender strips or pieces e a', (of wood, if preferred,) and at the same time obtain the necessary strength. The arched form of the pieces ay gives the velocipede a resemblance to the bicycle now in general use, and also enables the seat to be supported at a point nearer the'vertical plane of the axis of the vdriving-wheel than in three-wheeled velocipedes previously made.

Heretofore the seat-supporting frame has been composed of two straight bars or pieces extending directly from the point of connection with the frame C to the rear axle. It will be seen that the portions of said bars on which the seat is supported are necessarily lower and farther back from the vertical plane of the axis of the driving-wheel than the corresponding portions of the arched pieces a..

I do not limit myself to the employment .two trusses, as shown in Fig. 2, it being obvious that a single truss embodies the spirit of my'invention. By bringing the seat-forward, as described, the weight of the rider is supported more largely by the driving-wheel, and the rear wheels are enabled to be made smaller. y

The driving-wheel D is provided with a mcet. The section 3 is formed upon a pipe or box, 5, and the sections 3 4 have central orices, and are placed upon said box, as shown in Fig. 4. The spoke-sockets are formed by coinciding semicircular cavities in the proximate sides of said sections, as shown in Fig. 3. This sectional construction of the hub forms no part of my present invention.

The shaft of the cranks M M Ais formed in duced threaded end 'and the other a threaded socket adapted to receive said threaded end. The parts N N are inserted in the bore ofthe box 5 and screwed together therein, and are then rigidly secured to the box by keys O O, driven iirmly into coinciding grooves in the box and the parts N N. By this construction thefcranks M M and their shaft are virtually made integra-l with the hub, being attached thereto so firmly as to make accidental sepatallic hub, K, composed of three sections, 2 3 I' S5 separate pieces N N, one of which has a re- Too ration or loosening impossible. I prefer to provide the parts N N ofthe crank-shaft With xed collars N at opposite sides oi' the hub, although such collars are not essential. The parts N N of the cranks are each made in a single angular piece without a joint. If desired, the parts N N maybe externally threaded and screwed into the bore of the hub and keyed, as described.

I claim- 1. Avelocipede composed of the larger driving or steering Wheel journaled in a frame, C, the smaller rear Wheels on an axle, E, the inclined trussed seat-supporting frame A, pivotally connected to the frame C and rigidly attached to the rear axle, and the seat B, attached to the higher or front end of the frame A in close proximity to the frame C, as set forth.

2. In a veloeipede having a larger driving- Wlieeljournaled in a frame, C, and small er rear Wheels on an axle, E, the trussed frame A,-

composed of the curved bars a n, having means at one end Afor a pivotal connection With the frame C, and adapted to be rigidly attached at their other ends to the axle E, and the straight braces af, attached to the bars a, near the ends thereof7 as set fort-h.

3. The combinationk of the metallic hub of the driving-Wheel having a continuous tube or box, A5, extending from end to end of the to this specification, in the presence of two sub- 4o scribing witnesses, this 18th day of August,

STEPHEN H. KIBIBALL.

.\Vitiiesses: l C. F. BRWN, A. L. XVHITE. 

